Handle tie means



Oct. 19, 1965 c. E. GRYCTKO HANDLE TIE MEANS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 8, 1962 INVENTOR. 61424 5. a/evc eo Zda Oct. 19, 1965 c. E. GRYCTKO 3,213,326

HANDLE TIE MEANS Filed June 8, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 55 25bL$ a2 f) L] M %\W W 2m 2% 5% 2% [dd 3/66 M m M United States Patent M 3,213,326 HANDLE TIE MEANS Carl E. Gryctko, Haddon'Heights, N.J., assignor to I-T-E Circuit Breaker Company, Philadelphia, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Filed June 8, 1962, Ser. No. 201,014 12 Claims. (Cl. 317115) The instant invention relates to means for mechanically connecting circuit breaker handles and more particularly to means for mechanically connecting handles of alternate circuit breakers arranged side by side in a stack.

Today the trend in residence electrical wiring is to provide a three Wire single phase system with the incoming power being supplied at 240 volts and distributed to the branch circuits at 120 volts. In panel board arrangements for this type of power it is desirable to utilize the same type of circuit breakers for connecting the panel board bus bars to the source of power as is utilized to connect branch circuits to the bus bars.

As explained in detail in the co-pending application Serial No. 18,411, filed March 29, 1960 in the name of J. H. Leonard et al., entitled Panelboard Adapter, now US. Patent 3,095,524 issued June 25, 1963, and assigned to the assignee of the instant invention, there is a current trend toward providing circuit breakers of one-half inch width to be mounted to panel boards constructed to receive circuit breakers of one inch width. Under these circumstances a pair of adjacent circuit breakers is connected to one bus bar of the panel board and the adjacent pair of circuit breakers is connected to the other bus bar of the panel board. Thus, in order to provide 240 volt operation it is necessary to mechanically connect the handle of one circuit breaker in one pair with one circuit breaker in the other pair.

This is no particular problem when only one 240 volt circuit is involved since under these circumstances the handle of adjacent circuit breakers may be tied together. However, when more than one circuit is involved it is required that the handle tie means for at least one of the circuits extend past a circuit breaker handle without being connected thereto.

One approach to this problem is an arrangement utilizing one type of member to connect adjacent circuit breakers and a different type of member to connect the circuit breakers on each side of the previously mentioned adjacent circuit breakers. This arrangement has been found most undesirable since it is necessary to utilize two different handle tie constructions.

The instant invention provides a solution for the problem set forth above while eliminating the undesirable features of prior art solutions. That is the instant invention provides a construction whereby both circuit breaker handle ties are of identical construction.

Accordingly the primary object of this invention is to provide a novel construction for a circuit breaker handle tie.

Another object is to provide a novel arrangement for tying together the handles of alternate circuit breakers.

Still another object is to provide an arrangement whereby identical circuit breaker handle ties may be utilized to connect a first and a second pair of circuit breakers with a circuit breaker of each pair being positioned between the circuit breakers of the other pair.

These objects as well as other objects of this invention shall become readily apparent after reading the following description of the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a plan view illustrating the handle tie means of the instant invention utilized with a stack of four circuit breakers.

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary side elevation of the ar- 3,213,326 Patented Oct. 19, 1965 rangement of FIGURE 1 looking in the direction of arrows 22 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary end view of the arrangement of FIGURE 1 looking in the direction of arrows 3-3 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 4 is a perspective of a handle tie means constructed in accordance with the teachings of the instant invention.

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary side elevation showing the line connection between one of the circuit breakers of FIGURE 1 and a panel board bus bar stab.

FIGURE 6 is an end view partially sectioned to show details of the line connection of FIGURE 5.

Now referring more particularly to FIGURES 5 and 6.

Panel board 12 is provided with a plurality of forwardly extending stabs 13 arranged in a row in spaced parallel relationship. In a manner well-known to the art, alternate stabs 13a are connected to one bus bar 14 and the remaining stabs 1312 are connected to the other bus bar 15. In a typical three wire single phase system there is a 240 volt potential difference between bus bars 14, 15, hence, a 240 volt potential difference between stabs 13a, 13b.

Panel board 12 is constructed to receive so-called wide circuit breakers so that stabs 13 are located on one inch centers. However line terminals 21 of each of the circuit breakers 200-2011 are spaced on one-half inch centers since circuit breakers 2001 2011 are the so-called narrow circuit breakers. Breakers 20a-20b are mechanically secured together by means of rivets 22 while breakers 20c-20d are mechanically secured together by means of rivets 23. Adapter means 25a electrically connects stab 13a to the line terminals 21 of breakers 20a and 20b While adapter 25b electrically connects stab 13b to the line terminals 21 of breakers 20c and 20d. Circuit breakers 20a-20d are provided with operating handles 31a-31d, respectively, for manually operating movable contact 32 into and out of engagement with stationary contact 33 mounted to an extension of line terminal 21.

The energizing arrangement for panel board 12 is such that there is a potential difference of volts between any of the stabs 13a, 13b and neutral. Further there is a potential difference of 240 volts between stabs 13a and stabs 131;. In order to provide protection for the energization of panel board 12 and in order to provide protection for 240 volts branch circuits it is necessary to connect two circuit breakers in series with one of these series connected circuit breakers being connected to a stab 13a and the other being connected to a stab 13b. Thus, with reference to the stack of four circuit breakers 20a-20d, one of the circuit breakers from pair 20a, 201: must be connected to a circuit breaker from pair 20c, 20d. As shown in FIGURES 1 through 3, two 240 volt circuits are established by utilizing one handle tie means 40 to mechanically connect the handles 31a and 310 and another identical tie means 40 to mechanically connect handles 31b and 31d.

Each of the tie means 40 comprises a first U-shaped member 41 and a second U-shaped member 42 with the latter having a web which is substantially shorter than the former. U-shaped members 41 and 42 are secured to one another as by welding along the webs thereof. The arms 41a, 41b of U-shaped member 41 are positioned outboard of the arms 42a, 42b of U-shaped member 42 with all four arms being of substantially the same length. Arms 41a, 42a are in spaced generally parallel relationship and cooperate with one another to form a set of jaws adapted to receive a circuit breaker handle. Similarly, arms 41b, 42b are in spaced gen eraly parallel relationship and cooperate with one another to form another set of jaws to receive a different circuit breaker handle.

The free ends of arms 41a, 41b, 42a and 42b are each provided with an inwardly turned portion 43 entered into slots 44 on opposite sides of the circuit breaker handles. U-shaped members 41, 1-2 are constructed of spring material. When tie means 40 is mounted to a pair of circuit breaker handles it is necessary to slightly spread apart the arms of the U-shaped members forming the sets of jaws. This deformation establishes a biasing force which causes each of the circuit breaker handles to be clamped between the cooperating jaw forming arms of U-shaped members ill, 42.

As clearly seen in FIGURE 1, the arms of one of the tie means 40 extend in a direction opposite to the direction in which the arms of the other tie means 49 extend. Also as seen in FIGURE 1, the handles 31b, and 31d are in the ON position while handles 31a and 310 are in the OFF position. It is obvious that operation of handles 31b and, 31d to the OFF position will be in a direction away from the web of the tie means connecting handles 31a and 310. Similarly, operation of handles 31a and Site to the ON position will be in a direction away from the web of tie means 40 connecting handles 31b and 31d.

Thus, this invention provides a novel handle tie means for connecting the handles of alternate circuit breakers so that these handles are operated in unison. The con struction is such that identical units are utilized for tying together different handles. This materially simplifies the stocking of parts. Further economies are effected by the simple construction of the handle tie means and the ease with which the tie means is mounted to the circuit breaker handles.

Although there has been described a preferred embodiment of this novel invention, many variations and modifications will now be apparent to those skilled in the art. Therefore, this invention is to be limited, not by the specific disclosure herein, but only by the appending claims.

I claim:

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive privilege or property is claimed are defined as follows:

l. The combination comprising a first, a second, a third, and a fourth circuit breaker each having an individual manual operating handle; said circuit breakers arranged in side by side relationship with said first and said second circuit breakers adjacent to each other, said third and said fourth circuit breakers adjacent to each other, and said second and said third circuit breakers adjacent to each other; each of said circuit breakers having a terminal; first means for electrically connecting together said terminals of said first and said second circuit breakers; second means for electrically connecting together the first means of said third and said fourth circuit breakers; first tie means mechanically connecting the 'handles of said first and said third circuit breakers; second tie means mechanically connecting the handles of said second and said fourth circuit breakers; said first and said second tie means being of substantially identical construction; said handles of said second and fourth circuit breaker being completely independent of said first tie means, said handles of said first and third circuit breaker being completely independent of said second tie means.

2. The combination of claim 1 in which each of the tie means is constructed of spring material.

3. The combination comprising a first, a second, a third, and a fourth circuit breaker each having an individual manual operating handle; said circuit breakers arranged in side by side relationship with said first and said second circuit breakers adjacent to each other, said third and said fourth circuit breakers adjacent to each other, and said second and said third circuit breakers adjacent to each other; each of said circuit breakers having a terminal; first means for electrically connecting together said terminals of said first and said second circuit breakers; second means for electrically connecting together the first means of said third and said fourth circuit breakers; first tie means mechanically connecting the handles of said first and said third circuit breakers; second tie means mechanically connecting the handles of said second and said fourth circuit breakers; said first and said second tie means being of substantially identical construction; each of said first and said second tie means including a U-shaped portion with a web and arms extending from each end of the web; each of said handles being engaged by one of said arms at points thereof remote from the webs; said arms of said first tie means extending in a direction opposite to the arms of said second tie means; said handles of said second and fourth circuit breaker being completely independent of said first tie means, said handles of said first and third circuit breaker being completely independent of said second tie means.

4. The combination comprising a first, a second, a third, and a fourth circuit breaker each having an individual manual operating handle; said circuit breakers arranged in side by side relationship with said first and said second circuit breakers adjacent to each other, said third and said fourth circuit breakers adjacent to each other, and said second and said third circuit breakers adjacent to each other; each of said circuit breakers having a terminal; first means for electrically connecting together said terminals of said first and said second circuit breakers; second means for electrically connecting together the first means of said third and said fourth circuit breakers; first tie means mechanically connecting the handles of said first and said third circuit breakers; second tie means mechanically connecting the handles of said second and said fourth circuit breakers; said first and said second tie means being of substantially identical construction; each of said first and said second tie means comprising a web means and a first and a second pair of spaced parallel arms constituting individual sets of jaws in engagement with an individual one of the handles, said first pair of arms mounted at one end of said web means, and said second pair of arms mounted at the other end of said web means; said handles of said second and fourth circuit breaker being completely independent of said first tie means, said handles of said first and third circuit breaker being completely independent of said second tie means.

5. The combination of claim 4 in which said first and said second tie means are substantially identical in size and shape.

6. The combination of claim 5 in which each of the tie means is constructed of spring material.

7. The combination of claim t in which each of said first and said second tie means comprises a first and a second U-shaped member connected to each other along the webs thereof with the arms of the U-shaped members extending in the same direction and substantially parallel to each other, said arms of the first member spaced from the arms of the second member to form a first and a second set of jaws each in engagement with an individual one of said handles.

8. The combination of claim 7 in which the arms constituting each of said sets of jaws are provided with inwardly extending portion at the free ends thereof.

9. The combination of claim 8 in which each of the handles is provided with slots in opposite surfaces thereof, each of said slots having an individual one of said inwardly extending portions disposed therein.

10. The combination of claim 8 in which the arms of said first tie means extend in a first direction and the arms of the second tie means extend in a second direction opposite to said first direction.

ill. The combination of claim 8 in which said first and said second tie means are substantially identical in size and shape.

12. The combination of claim 11 in which each of the tie means is constructed of spring material.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS Speizman 200172 Brunner 20050 Barg 22445 Nimylowycz 200172 X Locher 200116 Leonard et a1. 2001 16 JOHN F. BURNS, Primary Examiner.

LARAMIE A. ASKIN, Examiner. 

1. THE COMBINATION COMPRISING A FIRST, A SECOND, A THIRD, AND A FOURTH CIRCUIT BREAKER EACH HAVING AN INDIVIDUAL MANUAL OPERATING HANDLE; SAID CIRCUIT BREAKERS ARRANGED IN SIDE BY SIDE RELATIONSHIP WITH SAID FIRST AND SAID SECOND CIRCUIT BREAKERS ADJACENT TO EACH OTHER, SAID THIRD AND SAID FOURTH CIRCUIT BREAKERS ADJACENT TO EACH OTHER, AND SAID SECOND AND SAID THIRD CIRCUIT BREAKERS ADJACENT TO EACH OTHER; EACH OF SAID CIRCUIT BREAKERS ADJACENT TERMINAL; FIRST MEANS FOR ELECTRICALLY CONNECTING TOGETHER SAID TERMINALS OF SAID FIRST AND SAID SECOND CIRCUIT BREAKERS; SECOND MEANS FOR ELECTRICALLY CONNECTING TOGETHER THE FIRST MEANS OF SAID THIRD AND SAID FOURTH CIRCUIT BREAKERS; FIRST TIE MEANS MECHANICALLY CONNECTING THE HANDLES OF SAID FIRST AND SAID THIRD CIRCUIT BREAKERS; SECOND TIE MEANS MECHANICALLY CONNECTING THE HANDLES OF SAID SECOND AND SAID FOURTH CIRCUIT BREAKERS; SAID FIRST AND SEAD SECOND TIE MEANS BEING OF SUBSTANTIALLY IDENTICAL CONSTRUCTION; SAID HANDLES OF SAID SECOND AND FOURTH CIRCUIT BREAKER BEING COMPLETELY INDEPENDENT OF SAID FIRST TIE MEANS, SAID HANDLES OF SAID FIRST AND THIRD CIRCUIT BREAKER BEING COMPLETELY INDEPENDENT OF SAID SECOND TIE MEANS. 